BY JAMES NELSON McKELLIN III
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DEAR ‘OLE DAD.
THE ONLY DAD WE FOUR KIDS FORTUNATELY EVER HAD.
HE AND MOTHER DID THEIR BEST TO RAISE US KIDS EACH DAY.
HE WAS DEDICATED TO LIFE MATE FLORENCE IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY.
HIS LIFE VOCATION, FOOD SERVICE TO COLLEGES, IN THE MIDWEST.
ACCORDING TO ACCOLADES RECEIVED, HE REALLY WAS THE BEST.
AS SOCCER COACH AT WHEATON HE GOT THE PROGRAM STARTED RIGHT.
NOW THE TEAM IS EVER BEHOLDING FOR HIS PIONEERING FORE SIGHT.
HE ENJOYED HORSEBACK RIDING, HE GAVE LESSONS TO QUITE A FEW.
WHEN THE HORSES STARTED ACTING UP, HE KNEW JUST WHAT TO DO.
HE AND MOM LOVED ROLLER SKATING, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF EVERY CHANCE.
SINCE AT WHEATON IN THE OLDEN DAYS, ONE JUST COULDN’T DANCE.
HE HAD THE MOVES, REALLY SMOOTH, AS HE CRUISED AROUND THE RINK.
HE WOULD HAVE MADE A WONDERFUL DANCER, THAT IS WHAT WE THINK.
AT THE COLLAGE CHURCH CHOIR HE LENT HIS TALENTS, A DEEP RESONATING
BASE VOICE.
AS DEACON AND ELDER, WHEN GOD CALLED, THERE WAS NO BETTER CHOICE.
AS KIDS WE REMEMBER TRIPS WITH HIM, TRAVELING NEAR AND FAR.
UT NONE TOPS SITTING ON SLED, BEING DRAGGED BEHIND THE CAR.
SPEAKING OF CARS, HIS CHOICE CONVERTIBLES, NOTHING ELSE WOULD DO.
ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAD A BELL AND THE COLOR BABY BLUE.
LIKE HIS ELDEST SON, HE WAS BLEST WITH A HEAD WITH LITTLE HAIR.
HE DONNED A CAP OF BABY BLUE, WHAT ELSE WOULD HE WEAR.
A FEW QUIRKY THINGS COME TO MIND, READ ON YOU’LL SEE WHAT I MEAN...
AT BETTY AND DAVE’S WEDDING, HE SPRAY PAINTED DEAD BUSHES GREEN.
WE HAD SOME DOGGIE PETS OVER TIME WITH OUR DAD.
I THINK TONY TOPS THE LIST AS THE FAVORITE POOCH HE HAD.
HE LOVED WATER BUT MOSTLY TO FISH AND TO FLOAT HIS BOAT.
HE ENJOYED BEING ON THE WATER IN ANYTHING THAT WOULD FLOAT.
OUR DAD’S DAD WAS A PATTERN MAKER, MADE STEAM ENGINES OUT OF WOOD.
AS A KID I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE ONE, BUT THEN I UNDERSTOOD.
HE MADE THE PATTERNS FOR THE STEEL CASTINGS, IN SAND EACH WAS CAST.
STEAM ENGINES WERE THEN ASSEMBLED, NOW THERE'RE RELICS FROM THE PAST
HIS LOVE OF TOOLS WAS PASSED TO DAD AND HE PASSED IT ON TO ME.
SO A CARPENTER AND AN ARCHITECT I BECAME TO BE.
SO TO BRING THIS TIME OF REMEMBRANCE TO AN APPROPRIATE CLOSE
THESE FINAL WORKS OF PRAISE FOR DAD I HAVE ESPECIALLY CHOSE.
I WAS SO HAPPY AT MY BIRTH WHEN THESE WORKS I HEAD,
I THINK I’LL CALL MY FIRST BORN SON, JAMES NELSON McKELLIN THE THIRD.